I produce low calorie milk (hv advice)

[Bringbring]

This is the reason my baby is not putting weight on and why I should start formula. She couldn't provide any evidence for this as a diagnosis except that she ff her own children after having low calorie milk. Is this a thing?

I've done everything I can think of to keep bf (helplines, had latch observed, pumped, co-slept, medicine, skin to skin, diet, asked my dr for blood tests (refused), turned up at numerous groups, feeding every hour) but my baby (15 weeks) only puts on 1oz a week. I feel terrible and I'm just crying non stop because I want to feed my baby myself and I just get fobbed off.

So so sad.

[moondog]

Well she's talking bollocks- which I think you know anyway.
Which helplines did you phone?

[elfycat]

Did she send off a sample to be tested?

If not she's bat-shit level crazy.

I had a HV try to get me to stop BF and FF so she could give me advice on my low weight percentile DD. She HATED that I couldn't give her exact measurements of feeds.

I can't say if you need more support with BF or do need to FF as well but I'd get advice from someone other that her and her quite frankly made up nonsense. Is there a feeding adviser at the local hospital you could arrange to see? I only persevered because of the adviser at the hospital.

[philbee]

Ask your hospital if there's an infant feeding coordinator you can see. And you can see a lactation consultant if you can pay privately. Who were the groups led by? Some are HVs who know little more than the standard line, but there are groups led by bf counsellors, look on the La Leche League website and NCT website for listings and contacts. If your baby isn't gaining enough can you see a paediatrician? Not sure why you're stuck with the HV.

[DrownedGirl]

Is that his weight gain has slowed or has he always put on 1oz?
You could ask for referral to a paediatrician

What's his poo like?
Is he windy ? Could be a tongue tie

[TwoTearsInABucket]

Errr, thar doesn't sound right. DD put between 1 and 2 oz a week when she was newborn. I was worried to begin with but then i chilled out. I tried to feed her more often and go to the baby weigh in less! She was a healthy and happy baby and doesnt eat huge amounts now she is 4 but she is perfectly fine.

Have you been to a bfing clinic, they are reassuring. Dont cry xxxx

[philbee]

And good luck. It's depressing to have to fight through so much bullshit to find someone who knows enough to help, but they are out there.

[Bringbring]

I think she's talking absolute bollocks but I don't know where else to turn.

I've tried the breastfeeding network about three times, a couple of local peer supporters and dragged myself to about six groups (great when not running or I'm the only person there)

Will try LLL

Thanks

[heidihole]

She sounds, as someone so eloquently said, bat-shit crazy.

Is your baby dropping percentiles? Maybe they are just small built. If he/she is tracking the same (ish) percentile there is nothing to worry about.

[philbee]

Where are you? I've had to find out local people so know some names in SE London (what are the chances, right?).

[tiktok]

Oh dear :( :(

This is seriously bad information from your health visitor. Testing milk would be no use anyway, as calorie content of milk is dynamic, and you will get different results with different samples and this is fine and normal. Your baby's weight may be a concern - not enough info in your post. Healthy babies should not be weighed weekly. You need the overall pattern of weight gain over several weeks.

Do post again with more info.

[RikeBider]

Has the baby been checked for tongue tie?

Low calorie milk is bollocks.

[yetanotherworry]

What a silly woman trying to worry you. It may just be that your baby is naturally a slow weight gainer; not all babies are meant to put on loads of weight. Has she dropped centiles on the growth chart. Is she happy and alert?

Have you read the articles about weight gain on Kellymom. I found these:
kellymom.com/health/growth/weight-gain_increase/
kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/change-milkfat/

[moondog]

Poor you. It can be really hard work and the last thing you need is people undermining you.
A lot of the helplines run on a shoestring and/or with volunteers, many of whom will be feeding their kids and supervising homework around now.
May I suggest you try the lovely people at Association for Breastfeeding Mothers tonight?

I hope Tiktok will pop up as she is long established uber knowledgeable MN breastfeeding expert to give you some more specific advice. Do a search for her posts too.

Do you have support there?
Someone looking after you, while you do the fantastic job you have already been doing for a looooong time?

[moondog]

Hurrah! Tiktok has driven up!

[tiktok]

:)



But I'm going out now!

[LizTerrine]

If you're in Surrey I might be able to point you in the direction of some excellent help.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I was told I was producing double cream as DD's weight increased massively from birth.

In fact I had been losing amniotic fluid so she should have been larger and was simply catching up. (She was a very good feeder though)

[Wolfiefan]

Semi skimmed boobs? Really? Bonkers!
Please get advice from someone who knows what they are talking about.
You have done all the right things.

[AlfieBear87]

I'm in a similar position. Ds2 born on 25th percentile, now 12 weeks and is below 0.4th and still dropping.

Peadotrician (sp?) has said to definitely carry on breast feeding but to introduce one bottle of formula a day. He said that ds2 is physically fine, he just needs more calories. So for some reason (probably the fact I'm running round after 18mo ds1 all day) my milk isn't producing the amount of calories he needs to grow.

So from what he's told me, your hv isn't talking complete bollocks, but it doesn't mean you have to cut all bf.

[Bringbring]

Heh, heh - batshit crazy!!! I am loving the no nonsense replies, feeling less helpless and more determined again!

i am concerned though, because we've fallen through the percentiles, from 91st to under 9 now. Have referral to a paed soon. No infant feeding coordinator at local hospital, retired and never replaced. Have left a few messages for lc, I need to exhaust every option before giving up.

Not windy or sicky on breastmilk, with nice yellow poos. On ff top up very stinky and windy (again just told this what babies are like) and constipated. Lots of nice wet nappies.

Did get him checked for tt in hospital but he does have a few symptons on the milk matters site.

I'm in yorkshire but wod travel if there's any recommendations

Thanks all (stopped crying)

[adagio]

South Wales seems to blessed with a small army of BF co ordinators, consultants and god knows what else - I think most of them came to visit me over the first few weeks after birth.

Let us know where you are - I get the distinct impression support varies a shed load depending on region in the Country but someone may be local to you and have a helpful suggestion of who to deal with in the vicinity.

[RikeBider]

Definitely worth getting checked by a specialist for tongue tie. If you google lactation consultants they are often qualified to check.

[RikeBider]

Alfie, isn't it more likely that your baby just isn't getting enough milk rather than the milk being "low calorie"? How did the paed diagnose it as low calorie?

[yetanotherworry]

What position do you feed in? Have you tried laid back feeding, its supposedly aids feeding in tongue-tied babies so if you think there's any possibility of tongue-tie it may be worth giving it a go.